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CULTURAL DIVERSITY

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ACTIVITY Nº1

In the more and more globalized world we have more and more knowledge about other cultures. But is this knowledge real or do we stay with first impression? Do we have fixed images and why not prejudices of others? Are there cultures/ ethnic groups from wich we only receive positive images? Are there other with only negative ones? Why?

Create the following collages of photos and pictures: "How are we seen by others and how are we in reality? It would be usefull by means of this activity to get to know each other a little bit better and discover the cultural diversity among us.

Foreigners think, the Haitian people are dirty people and that we don´t know how t olive well together. They say we are an undeveloped country and we have no future.

In reality, the Haitians know well how to live and share together. We are solidair with another. Of course, we have a good and a bad site, like all people do, everywhere. What happens is that the foreigners do not take time to get us to know a little bit better.

We have lots of trees and the nature gives us health and welfare.

Haiti is a fresh country full of sun, beautiful beaches, wind, nature and breath taking landscapes.

The foreigners come to Haiti for its nature. Unfortunately, the Haitian people believe in the richness of other countries. But there are foreigners falling in love with Haiti and not wanting to return to their owns.

How people think Of us as Palestinians

we believe that when it comes to what the "outside world" thinks about us there're 2 different perspectives. The first one states that half people around the world don't even know we exist! And The ones that do know we exist see us as suicide bombers, terrorists these people who deserve to get wiped off the face of earth!

The other perspective is that lately, after this whole UN Bid to make the Palestine as a member of the UN, that President Mahmoud Abbas is aiming for, a lot of people know us better and know that Palestinians do actually suffer from the Israeli occupation and that they deserve peace and a life of freedom just like everybody else.

How we see ourselves as Palestinians

Now when it comes to how we see ourselves, it's simple. We're these simple people who had enough with all the suffering and we just want to live in peace. So you'll see that even though we're under occupation, suffering from the Israeli attacks and their checkpoints, policies, apartheid wall, military control, etc. We still have what we could call a "daily life" Meaning we go to schools to learn, we get jobs, we laugh , we love, we do silly things. We're trying to have as much of a simple care-free life as possible.

by Wajd Abbas

This is the image of the group from Slovakia ... we made a collage of our paintings and this is how it look like, how do the others see Slovaks and Hungarians living in our area.

On the picture you can see the mountains, High Tatras, which is very tipical for Slovakia. You can see also wooden house, which is also seen as tipically Slovak. We are good at ice-hockey and if we say others that slovak, it usually pop up in their mind: hockey and football. For Hungarians - as in our region we are mixed: Slovaks, Hungarians, Gipsies and some other nations, and in our group we had Hungarians too - it is very tipical the vine - red or white. It is very close to us the Tokaj district. So it is something what others use to mention us, when we say from where we are.

The young members of Timzday Association have had a meeting in which they discussed the first activity.

TURKEY is located on the land of Anatolia which is dated to thousands of history and

which has four seasons.

The word Anotolia means: Place where the sun rises.

The first civilized communuties of human being had lived in Anatolia.

Turks came to Anatolia from Middle Asia thousands years ago. After they settled in

Anatolia, they have kept alive their traditions and customs.

During the centuries they have had cultural relations and effects on each

other and created a common culture.

Today many ethnic cultures Turkish, Kurdish, Greek, Kafkas and Balkan orginated people have been living togather in peace many years.

The people who believe in three main religions have a right to workship in their own

places of worships.

HOW DO THEY SEE US

Well if we start talking how foreigners see Albania, we can stay for a very long time, and i can write a lot, but i guess you are not very interested and you don’t have too much time to stay in front of your pc for hours.

So shortly I can write, from my experience with foreigners, who have visited Albania for their very first time…

At first they ask me if there is still war in Albania – which is the most funny question for me.. J So dear friends, No in Albania there is not war at all. Maybe they get confused with the period of 1997, when Albania was in a civil war, but that period is very far for Albanians of nowadays.

Also it is very popular for foreigners to think of criminal bands, maybe because of movies and stuff like these, but in which country there are not criminals?? I can’t say there are no criminals in Albania, but living here is as quite as living in other countries. So don’t be afraid and come, you will change your opinion on the first day you’re here. Believe me I can say this because of my experience with my foreigner friends J

These are the two most popular questions but now shortly I will give you some advices. Maybe you will like or not but this is how it works mostly in Albania and with Albanian people, but still don’t be confused, not all the people think in the same way, this never happened anywhere J

HOW ARE WE IN REALITY

Always negotiate a price before you get in a taxi. Taxis in Albania do not have meters installed, so the price will vary depending on your negotiation skills and naturally the distance to be travelled.

Wherever you are: Avoid staring Albanians males. Prolonged eye contact is offensive for Albanians, and in many cases has been a cause for fight.

Remember, Albanians are overprotective of their women. If you go to clubs, pubs etc. do not hit on a accompanied women, you might laugh at this advice but it can save you from a fight :P

Albanians do not widely except homosexuality. So I would advice gays not to express their sexuality publicly, since they may become prone to attack by individuals. Sorry….

When you are offered something, like a drink or a present, by an Albanian be advised that a rejection can be offensive. Albanians are very friendly people, especially towards foreigners, but they do not take rejection very lightly. So when we offer something, accept it. It’s in our culture to give presents and make you feel appreciatedand respected. J

The same happens when an Albanian offers to pay the bill. He/ She will go to great lengths to have his/her way, so my advice is: do not argue. Lol, that’s a good one, leave the bill to Albanians, save money … :P

When talking to Albanians, do not be surprised when they ask you personal questions about your job, family etc. This is very usual. They will tell you all their problems, their point of view even they are very personal. However you are not obligated to answer these kind of questions.

Albanian loves coffee (espresso or Turkish). You’ll see that whenever they sit to have a drink, coffee will be one of them. However, when an Albanian says: “Let’s go for coffee!” this does not necessarily mean that you’re expected to drink only coffee. It is just a saying.

Formerly the Gold Coast , Ghana is young republic which became independent from Britain on the March 6, 1957. The first black African colony to achieve is independence. Ghana occupies the pinnacle spot in Pan-Africa n history having hit the torch for African Emancipation and became home for famous Pan-Africanist such as W.E. B Du Bois and George pad more. Dr Kwame Nkrumah whose mausoleum adds to accra’’s hands cape was Ghana’s first President. Europe power struggle between the 15th and 19th centuries started with the Portuguese who build Elmina Castle in 1482. They are were followed by the Dutch ,Swedes, Danes, Prussians and the British looking for fortunes in gold and ivory.

This intense commercial rivalry ended with the growth of the tragic trade in silvery- all 42 European castles and fortifications were used as dungeons for the millions most whom lost their lives or whose descendants compose the Africa Diaspora today.

42 forts and castles including Elmina and cap coast were recognized by UNESCO as world No 1 Heritage monuments. Site of wars between the British ad indigenous population especially the Ashanti peoples.

Ancient artistry in fabries with the colourful and popular Ashanti Bonwire kente cloth now adopted as a focus of indentity by many people of African decent the world over.

The practice of ancient herbal and alternative medicine side by side with orthodox medical practice throughout the country.

ACTIVITY Nº 2

For sure, there are some inmigrants in your locality. People who came to your country because of... To discover their reasons please make an enquery to at least three different persons. Ask them why they came to your country, what were their expectations, how do they feel about living in your country, would they like to go back or not, etc.

You can also interview returned inmigrants, people of your nacionality that did inmigrated to other country and decided to come back. Ask them abouth their reasons and experience . Place your interviews on the blog.

Maruja left her country, Peru because of the terrorism of Sendero Luminoso and to give a better future to her first son: better education quality and health service. To do that, she bought a visa for Spain for which she had to pay 2000€ and she left her child with her family. She would see him again 5 years later, after getting all papers nesecary to bring him over to Spain.

2. What kind of job did you find in Spain?

The first three months she did not have any work at all. She was living together with other Peruan woman and many time they ware hungry. She would return to Peru, if she had had money at that time. Her first work and many other after that one, was working in domestic service, cleaning houses. This is the kind of work the latin american women seems to realize in Europe.

3. How did spanish people treat you?

A lot better than they have treated her in Argentina. Spanish people are in general very social and helpfull although her husband did realized some works and didn´t get paid for them. No contract, no claim.

4. What was most suprizing to them of the Spanish culture?

Eating hours. In Peru you get up early, at 6AM, take a good breakfast in the morning and eat something warm at 12.00. In Spain they take very little for breakfast and eat at 14PM. The evening meal in Peru is at 19.00 while in Spain it is between 21 and 22PM.

Also in Spain people don´t show so much respect as in Peru to persons with higher education not the police, professors or the church.

5. Would you like to come back to Peru?

Yes, but when my children are grown up. She would like to come back once retired. Although she can´t imagine her life far away from her children.

INTERVIEW TO A SPANISH EMIGRANT

We went to the old people’s home to interview Paula, an old Spanish lady who had emigrated to France. We asked her:

1.When did you go?

She couldn’t remember well, as she is quite old, but more or less when she was 20. This was around the 1950`s, quite a difficult period in Spain (after a 3-years-civil war, Spanish dictatorship supported Nazi Germany, which led to international isolation), with little food and little money.

2.Why did you go to France?

I chose France because many people of my village had gone there, because of the economic situation in those days. I was looking for a better job and a better status of life.

3.What was the trip like?

A relative took me to the closest city (80 km away). There I took a train to the border of France. This took more than 20 hours standing, as there weren’t enough seats for everyone.

4.What was your life in France like?

I lived in a Spanish district, full of Spanish people. There were Spanish priests who organized everything (free medical aid with Spanish doctors, free food and sometimes excursions…). I worked in a textile factory. I worked hard from early in the morning until late in the evening.

5.Why did you come back?

I married in France to a Spanish man and had a daughter. Our daughter died and when my husband died too, I had retired, so I decided to come back to my village.

6.Any other interesting memories?

My two brothers didn’t have a visa, so they tried to pass the border illegally hidden in a truck. They got caught and sent back to Spain. The people who managed to go by illegally could have jobs as woodcutters. They lived in barracks and got paid very badly. Some of them had to sleep in the forest.

Interview with Mr. Solomon (42), a Liberian national

1.Why did you immigrate to Ghana?

Solomon left Liberia because of the civil war that erupted in the country some years back. The infrastructural facilities such as schools and hospitals of the country had been destroyed as a result of the civil war. He had to fled the country and seek refuge elsewhere, where he could get better education, better health service and above all security for his two children and wife. Ghana then became his prime destination.

2.What kind of job did you find in Ghana?

Solomon had to settle down in a refugee camp established by the government of Ghana for Liberian refugees. He was first employed as a labourer on a building construction site. Solomon is educated and fortunately for him, he was able to secure a job in a Hotel. He is now able to provide adequately for his family.

3.How did Ghanaian people treat you?

Ghanaians are generally social, helpful, generous and above all, their hospitality is second to none. He cited as an example, one Mr. Samuel who supported him both morally and financially.

4.Would you like to go back or not?

The political stability and the peaceful co-existence in Liberia in recent years makes him eager to back to his country and get reunited with his friends and some family members. He would like to go back only when his children complete their studies here in Ghana.

Interview with Kofi Asamoah (35),a Ghanaian who immigrated to Spain.

1. Why did you immigrate to Spain?

Asamoah went to Spain mainly due to the rising unemployment rate in Ghana. As a result of this, his father had to find any means to enable him acquire a Spanish Visa and to facilitate his travel to Spain. He went to Spain to seek for a better job so as to improve his living standard and that of his family living in Ghana.

2. What job did you find in Spain?

Asamoah was jobless for about four months as he had to acquire a working permit in Spain. He depended on a friend who had already established himself in Spain. His first worked as a cleaner in a hospital and later worked as a security personnel in hotel.He is now working as a receptionist in a hotel in the city of Barcelona.

3. How were you treated by the Spanish?

The Spanish are generally good, helpful, generous and very honest.This is because, of all the jobs he did, his salaries were duly and fully paid in accordance to the agreed terms. Above all, racial abuse does not exist in the Spanish communities.

4. What do you like about the Spanish?

Their love for football is simply amazing and incredible.Precisely in Barcelona, people storm eating and drinking bars to watch live Fc Barcelona matches while others go to the Camp Nou Stadium to watch the match.

5.Would you like to come and settle in Ghana permanently in the future?

Asamoah would like to settle in Ghana in the near future to establish his own business to employ people to better their lives.

Interviews with 3 immigrants

To tackle the issue of immigration, the students make three interviews with some retired Moroccan people who belong to the first generation of immigrants. Most of these people were chosen by a person called “ Mora “ their selections based en hard work .The questions of the interviews were as follows :

A/ What were the reasons for their immigration?

B/ How did they find the host country?

C/ how do they find Morocco when they returned back?

D / Do they think to go back to the host country?

After the interviews with three immigrants, we come up with the

following results:

1. Reasons:

- Poverty and unemployment.

- The need of France to employees.

- Visit to the family members there.

Inmigrants looking for job

2.

- New working system.

- Well-organised work.

- Good infrastructure.

- Modern life and cultural diversity made it so difficult for them to integrate in the host country easily.

3. Most of the interviews mention that there is a change at the level of architecture and life style, but the mentality still need so much change.

4. Nearly all of them don’t think to go back to the host country due to age and standard of living which is much better here for them now.

2- How long have you been living in Turkey?
-I have been living here for 13 years.

3- Why did you come to Turkey?
-We were having a holiday here, we liked this country and we came here to find a better job

4- Do you want to turn back to your country?
-No, because I love Turkey.

5- Do you miss your country?
-No, because I was too young when I moved here so Turkey is like my country.

6- How often do you visit your country?

-I visit Moldovia once four or five years.

7- What are the cultural differences between Moldovia and Turkey?
-You know Moldovian and Turkish culture are really similar for example languages and clothing cultures are similar, they are almost the same, but but the food culture is very different, Moldovians love Russian food (potatoe dishes) more, but I love both cultures.

The interviews by two of the Palestinian group:
The First was a Russian woman:
1. she came to Palestine do a research about the water and electricity in poor villages
2. She said the violence and attacks were wrong and the European media gives the wrong idea and image about what is happening here in Palestine.
3. When she leaves she says she will keep on writing and publish her piece and hopefully try to give the right image.

The second was a group of Japanese people:
1. they are in Palestine to eat great food , apparently.
2. The situation in Palestine is very complicated and never ending.
4. They came through a separate which was very shocking for them and it's hard to understand what happens here, and the idea just seems plain hard. (this is a question i asked about whether the European media gives the right image or not )

by Lela and Hamze

Interview with Stoyan and Alberto
Stoyan:
1.What is different between our cultures?
-Our cultures are not very different. Bolgarian and Slovak are very similar.Just some special days have different date.

2.How do you enjoying Slovakia and slovakian people?
-Slovakian people are friendly and country is amazing.

3.Can you imagine that you will change your culture for our?
-No,I don´t think so.

Alberto:
1.What is different between our cultures?
-Spain is more alive country than Slovakia.

2.How do you enjoying Slovakia and slovakian people?
-Young people are amazing.They are more communicative than older people.Spanish people are more friendlier than Slovakia.

3.Can you imagine that you will change your culture for our.
-No,I´m sure.

ACTIVITY Nº3

With the aim of knowing each other a little better and to bring our cultures a little bit closer we ask every group to choose and to share a recipe of your country. You have to give a good description of how to prepare that meal beacuase other group will have to do it. Please have in mention that some of the ingredients will be deifficult to find on other country, so before publishing your recipe, contact your other group to gather some information about ingredients possibilities. Take pictures of the activity and of the result of your meal and publish it on the blog.

The groups are as following:

Haiti - Albania

Slovaquia - Morocco

Spain - Palestina

Ghana - Turkey

It means that Haiti will prepare an Albanian meal and Albaniaýouth will prepare a Haitian meal, etc.

There's a legend about this meal. It is said to have been invented during a civil war around the 1870's. Some officers came to s supporter's house. The lady of the house told the cook to fry eggs and potatoes to feed them, but the cook told her there weren't enough eggs for everyone. Then the lady had an idea: "Make omelettes filled with the chips" and that's how this meal, probably the most representative of our country, was born.﻿

For 20 persons (4 tortillas)

Ingredients:

15 patatoes

12 eggs

4 onions

salt

olive oil

Preparation:

1. Peel and wash the patatoes

2. Peel onions

3. Cut in slices the patatoes and in small peaces the unions

4. Add oil into the frying pan and heat it (pretty a lot)

5. Add the patatoes to the frying-pan

6. Put the frying-pan on the fire

7. When the patatoes and onions are soft, take them out of the frying-pan

8. Whipe eggs in a bowl

9. Add patatoes and onions to it

10. Add salt

11. Fry it all in the frying -pan

12. When the first site of tortilla is done, put a big plate on the frying-pan in order to turn it over

13. Gently put the tortilla on the other sideinto the frying-pan

14. When is ready take it out and cut it in slices

You can eat it warm or cold and accompany with a salad.

HAVE A GOOD MEAL!!!

Jóvenes Solidarios

The Spanish Food by The Palestinian Group

TORTILLA DE PATATAS

The Palestinian group met on 22 Dec 2011 in a kitchen of a school in Jerusalem to cook the Spanish food. And all participated in cooking, making salad, preparing the food, etc. As you see in the photos it was made but maybe not exactly as it should be, the cookers tried to make it one piece, but then didn't work out. Anyhow, The group said, it's similar to one local dishes here in Palestine which is called (Eggs & Potato). We all liked it and was really great experience :)

Prepation:
Put one egg into flour. Mold them togather and then put some water. (like pizza dough) Use rolling pin to make the dough 5 mm. (like a pizza) Put some flour on and under the dough. Make the dough circle shape and cut into squares. (3 4 cm)
Minced meat + some pepper + salt + chiil pepper + very small sliced one onion + some chopped persley are mixed together then get some mixed meat into the squared doughes and close them as in the shape of triangle. After you prapare the triangle shaped doughs you put them into boiled water with salt. Boil doughs for 15 minutes. Get boiled doughs from the boiled water into pan. And put some yoghurt and fried olive oil + red chilli pepper souce on it. Serve it.

Bon apetite!

AMPESIE AND KONTOMIRE STEW

INGREDIENTS

·1 tuber of yam

·5 pieces of plantain

·1 bundle of ‘kontomire’ leaves

·75ml of palm oil

·5 pieces of red pepper

·2 onions

·5 eggs

·Salt

2. PREPARATION·Peel and wash the yam and the plantain.

·Cut in slices the yam and the plantain.

·Add water and salt and boil for about 30 minutes.

·Remove it from fire and pour out the boiled water.

·Wash the ‘kontomire’ leaves and pepper and boil for about 10 minutes.

·Grind the boiled ‘kontomire’ leaves and pepper together and add salt and onion.

·Put a saucepan on fire and add a little sliced onions and allow it to heat for 4 minutes.

·Add the grounded ‘kontomire’ leaves and pepper and stir thoroughly.

·Add the eggs and stir thoroughly and leave it for about 10 minutes.

ENJOY YOUR MEAL!!!

Slum Aid Foundation-Ghana

The Ghana food by the Turkish Group..

Ghana dish-Ampesie and Kontemire Stew

The Turkish group gathered on 13rd January,2012 in a kitchen of one of our youngsters home in Antalya.We all participated in cooking..but of course we could nt find some ingredients as in Ghana..like kontemire stew but we used spinach instead..then yam ..we used potatoes instead as well..We tried to cook as delicious as Ghana people do..The RESULT was perfect..!! The group members found the meal very delicious..On that day..We listened to music ,danced while cooking..We enjoyed a lot and it was a really interesting experience for all of us..

With love to everybody in our project team..
The Turkish Group-Golden Orange Youth Club

Put all the Baghir ingredients in a blender. Process untill the batter is homogenous and nolonger lumpy. This takes about 2-3 minutes.

Pour the mixture into a bowl, cover it with plastic wrap and let it sit in a warm place for about 40 minutes. By now, the batter should be all nice and bubbly on top. Stir it gently to evenly distribute the bubbles. Heat a non-stick pan over low-medium to medium hest until hot. I like to heat up two non-stick pans (6"and 8") to speed things up. Make 1 test Baghir to check the heat setting of your stove. Pour enough batter into the pan to cover the bottom of the pan without stirling the pan or your Baghir will be too thin(remember you are not makeing crepes). You will start seeing bubbles form immediately. Cook on one site only, until the surface is no longer wet and there are holes thoughout.

Remove Baghir from pan and put on wire rack to cool. Adjust heat if necessary (increase if the bubbles don´t form throughout, and decrease if the bottom cooks before the top is coocked). Repeat with the remainder of the batter.

For the syrup, put all ingredients in a small saucepan and heat gently until hot. Place one Baghir on a plate, and using a spoon (or silicone pastry brush), drizzle the Baghir liberally with the syrup, (remeber, there´s no sugar in the Baghir itself so all the sweet ness comes from the syrup).

The syrup serves two function: heating up the Baghir as well as sweeten it. Stack another Baghir on top, and repeat the syrup process.

The Baghir is very porous so the bottom Baghir will catch a lot of syrup that flows from all the Baghir stacked on top.

BAKED LAMB AND YOUGURTIngredients (For 4 persons)

1-1/2 lbs lamb

4 tablespoons butter (1/2 stick)

2 tablespoons rice

Salt, pepper

For yogurt sauce

1 tablespoon flour

4 tablespoons butter (1/2 stick)

2 lbs yogurt

5 eggs

Salt, pepper

Cut meat in 4 serving pieces, sprinkle each peace with salt and pepper and bake it in a moderately-heated oven with half the butter, sprinkling the meat with gravy now and then. When meat is half-baked, add rice. Remove the baking pan from the oven and leave it aside while you prepare the yogurt sauce:

Saute flour in butter until mixed thoroughly. Mix yogurt with salt, pepper and eggs until a uniform mixture is obtained, and finally stir in the flour. Put the sauce mixture in the baking pan, stir it with the meat pieces and bake at 375 degrees F for about 45 min. Serve hot.

The way
-1 Wash chicken, salt, flour, lemon and wash again, and boiled chicken with a little cinnamon, cardamom, salt and cut into small pieces, too.-2 Put the oil in a pot and put it onions and stir until it becomes golden in color then put him garlic, spices and salt, as well as the modes it sumac, lemon juice and stir, then put him chicken and a quarter cup of broth bone and stir, then lift him out of the fire.15 -3 Cut bread lengthwise and width
-4 Take a piece of bread painted by brush of chicken broth and put it tablespoon of the stuffing and discouraged, and damage to the parties and so on until the end of headquarters.-5 grease with olive oil and grease heated chicken salad
-6 And then put in the oven for 10 minutes and get it out and top with tin and leave for a quarter of an hour a-nd then placed in the prepared dish and sprinkle pine

The Palestinian meal by Jóvenes Solidarios Youth Group

We gathered together at Monia´s House. Some ingredients like the lebanes bread are not to find in our village, so we did replaced it with pita bread. We have had a great time together while cooking! At the end there was no food left. We ate it all which shows the succes of it´s taste.

Watching movie "The Wave"

﻿﻿

Enjoying the meal

﻿﻿

Haitian Pumpkin Soup - Soup Joumou (pronounced joo-moo)﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿

This savory soup is served in all Haitian households on New Year day in conmmemoration of Independence day. It was on January first, 1804, that Haiti became the world´s first independent black republic by defeating the French.

1. In a medium pot. cook pumpkin over medium heat in 6 cups water for 30 minutes. Purée pumpkin in the water.

While pumpkin is cooking, clean meat with lime, rinse with hot water and drain. Marinate meat with meat rub. Rub the meat with the spices paste-scallions, onion, thyme, garlic, shallot, green pepper, salt and black pepper ground together. (For an enhanced flavour, you can marinate the meat from 1 hour up to one day in advanced).

2. In stockpot, add the meat with oil and tomato paste and brown by adding small amounts of water to caramelize the meat. Cook covered over medium heat for 20 minutes. Add 3 cups water and purée pumpkin and bring to a boil.

3. Add cabbage, carrots, celery, onion, turnip, tomato sauce, potato and parsley to the soup, bring toboil, then reduce heat and simmer for 1 hour with a whole scotch bonnet on top. (The whole scotch bonnet is for flavoring not to make the soup hot). Remeber to find and remove the pepper as you stir the soup and remove it before it bursts).

4. Add the spaghetti broken into short pieces and cook until soft and tender.

5. Taste and add a minimal amount of salt, black pepper or hot pepper to taste.

6. Turn off the heat, cover the pot asd let sit until ready to serve.

SAUERKRAUT SOUP

Dear All! We would like to present You a food from Slovakia called sauerkraut soup.We usually eat this soup at Christmas time.Here is the recipe of
the soup.You can try to prepair it.Most of us like it very much and we
hope You will like it too.

Begin by cooking the pork ribs and the joint of smoked pork, together
with the sausage, in a pot with 4 liters of water. After 10 minutes,
when the water is boiling, add the dry mushrooms and let it cook until
the meat is halftender.Then add the sour cabbage and its juices to the
pot and cook it again for about an hour. Half way through the hour, add
2 whole onions, a meat and a vegetable oxo cube and 1dcl of white wine.
Make some 'zaprazka', which is prepared from oil, pepper, paprika and
water, and then thickened with flour. When the hour is up, add the
whole, peeled potatoes and 'zaprazka', and stir. Then, let it cook for a
further five minutes, adding more spices according to taste.
When the cooking is finished serve it together with thick noodles, in a
soup bowl.

Greatings from Slovakia!

Interview
with Mr. Jean Baker Saint Val

1-When
did you go to the United States? And why did you stay there?

I
went to see doctor after an accident on July 1988, to be back immediately after
the rehabilitation.

Rehabilitated,
2 years later when I plan to be back, political movement occurred, the
government deported, violence in the country force me to stay longer out of my
country and my family.

2-What
was your life in the U.S.?

My
life in that country was sometime bad when thinking of my family, friends and
more. Good when I learn more about other culture, and I had the time to know
better the Holy Scripture. I came to know better my people, my real identity as
an Israelite from the tribe of Judah, deported in America and Caribbean, sold
as slaves.

3-What
were the reasons why you came back?

I
came back to share my knowledge to my people and to teach them to return to Jha
(Jehovah).

4-What
were your experiences in the U.S.?

As
I previously said, I learnt about other culture, meet other nation, , other
language and more…

5-Do
you have any interesting memories?

It
is true, I worked sometime in good condition to have the way to live, but the
only memory that I’ll ever keep in mind is to know who am I: an Israelite and
specifically from the tribe of Judah of which Jehoshua that we call Jesus, the
Savior and the King to come pretty soon.

Interview
with Rd Jan Hanssens

The
Rd Jan Hanssens is a Belgian who is living in Haiti for many years.

He
is living in Haiti since 1973. He had been out of the country from 1987 to
1994, during the disturbance that Haiti knew with the “coup d’Etat”. He later
returned for a responsibility in the missionary congregation to which he
belongs.

1-Why
did you come to our country?

I
have decided to come in Haiti since I was interested to work for international
solidarity. I wanted to preach and live the Gospel in an intercultural context.

2-What
were your expectations?

I
really had no particular perspectives in mind seen my vocation. I was opened to
all the opportunities.

3-How
do you feel about living in our country?

I
am happy to be there. I find the country fascinating. I like the relation which
exists between the people and the importance that they give to it. I think that
there is an increasing evolution which istaking place within the country and the people.

On
the other hand, my adaptation, in the beginning, was difficult since I didn’t
know the Haitian language. After my adaptation and capacity to communicate
directly with the people, everything became easier. I learnt to accept the
Haitian people with the positive and negative sides of their culture. I find the
solidarity between people interesting. This solidarity was very outstanding
during the period before 1987. Also immediately after the earthquake, I felt it
again very strong. However, it is an ongoing challenge.

4-What
is most surprising to you in Haitian culture?

a)The
religious sense of the Haitians;

b)The
hospitality and the kindness of the people;

c)The
importance given to family links.

5-Would
you like to stay in definitely in the country or return to your own place?

I
am always satisfied to go in my country for some vacations and to visit my own
people and family. But, I wouldn’t feel it comfortable living there definitely.
However, it is possible that for some reasons I decided to spend my last days
in my native country.

Slovaquia

Spain

Your Participation = Our Future Project

Followers

ASOC. JÓVENES SOLIDARIOS

We are a non profit association that seeks to develop an open minded and tolerant society through working with young people. By creating communication networks between youth from different countries and cultures we attempt to promote an active and critical attitude and the citizen participation.

MOROCCO, ASOC. TIMZDAY

1- General objectives: to facilitate and support the participant of the youth of the region in the development of the local community. 2- Specific aims: to support active citizenship for the youth of the region through enhancing values of democracy, peace and coexistence . Training and strengthening the abilities of youth of the region in the field of development - contribution in cultural educational and social activities in the region.

GHANA, SLUM AID FOUNDATION

1. To strengthen the effectiveness of community based structures and groups to demand for the youths rights and to articulate their development needs. 2. To assess youth perceptions of the causes and consequences of violence generally, the causes and consequences. conditions.4. To generate and disseminate relevant information to the youth so as to improve on their living conditions.

ALBANIA, ASOC. ACTIVE YOUTH

"Active Youth aims to represent and to defend the rights and intereses of the young people;To promote the young leaders; To educate and train the youth on social, economic and politic topics.

HAITI, ACAT

ACAT (Citizen Action for the Abolition of the Torture) is a Human Rights related Non Governmental Organization founded in 2000. Our essential mission is to work on the promotion and the defense of Human Rights in Haiti through education, raising awareness and pleading. JPP is the branch of ACAT constituted of young people from 10 to 18 years old in a suburb named Martissant, located in the southern part of Port - au - Prince. These young people are working in schools and on the streets. Its work consists in implementing pacific settlement of dispute and providing training on Human Rights principles to other young people.

SLOVAKIA, NGO PATRÓNUS

An organisation active in field of local development by helping to develop and realize own ideas of different groups. The NGO works mostly in field of youngsters, but also with regions, villages with fewer opportunities.

TURKEY, GOLDEN ORANGE CLUB

ANTALYA ANATOLIAN HIGH SCHOOL Gebizli mah.Yunus Emre cad.No:196 07300 Muratpaşa/ Antalya Turkey.Antalya Anatolian High School Family Reunion Golden Orange Youth Club aims to work in different fields such as volunteering,environment ,music ,art,sports and dance..We also would like young people to be more conscious and aware of social and cultural activities..